Heavenly Himalayas

Perched high in the Himalayas and nestled in acres of lush cedar forest, Wildflower Hall became my peaceful home for four blissful days, an enchanting place where I finally felt a sense of quiet and serenity.

Driving up the long, narrow, serpentine road from Chandigarh I was utterly captivated by the beauty of the pines and cedars, the freshness in the air, the majesty of eagles soaring overhead and the unique, chaotic charm of Shimla. After arriving at Wildflower I unwound from the day’s long journey in the outdoor infinity jacuzzi – my favorite spot in the hotel and a perfect place from which to gaze at snow-capped mountain peaks and verdant forests. Evening welcomed a delightful Swiss fondue dinner for guests, hosted by Wildflower’s fantastic new GMs, Rob and Storm Mason.

Eager to explore the splendor of the mountains I spent my first morning on a hike and bike with Sameer, one of Wildflower’s great adventure guides. It’s hard to describe how it feels walking in such beauty but one word of advice, don’t stare at the view too long while biking – it’s a far way down! It truly is hard to look away – I could have sat on the edge of any of the trails for hours, just to soak up my surroundings. In the afternoon Sameer took me to a few spots in Shimla, including stores teeming with traditional Himachal garb and a Tibetan restaurant where we had yummy momos (dumplings). After an evening jacuzzi dip under the stars I settled in early for bed, eager to sleep before the next day’s 6 hour sunrise hike.

My stay at Wildflower could not have been more perfectly timed, nor could I have asked for a better location in which to wind down an incredible, life-changing trip throughout northern India. After three wonderfully crazed weeks it was here that I found a real sense of calm, pure natural beauty and dare I say it, some magic in the air.

Photos from the 6 hour sunrise hike on Flickr

Plan to find your own magic at Wildflower Hall by clicking here